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Residents and business owners are dealt with major devastation in Ellicott City, Maryland, after flooding. Officials say the cost of the damage could be hundreds of millions of dollars. News4's Darcy Spencer reports. (Published Sunday, July 31, 2016)

Flood waters tore through the streets of Ellicott City, Maryland, Saturday -- killing two people and causing extensive damage to property and infrastructure.

A man and a woman were found dead Sunday morning, said Andy Barth, spokesman for Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman.

The victims have been identified as 35-year-old Jessica Watsula, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and 38-year-old Joseph Anthony Blevins, of Windsor Mill, Maryland, Baltimore County Police said. Both bodies were discovered on the Baltimore County side of the Patapsco River, authorities said during a news conference.

"This was a terrible, terrible, horrific incident before we knew two people had died. That just makes it so much more horrific," Kittleman said during the news conference.

Deadly Floods Tear Through Maryland

Two people were killed after being swept away by floodwaters in Ellicott City, Maryland. News4's Darcy Spencer reports.

(Published Sunday, July 31, 2016)

Police said Watsula's body was found about 2:20 a.m. Her brother told police that she and family members were visiting Ellicott City when the flooding happened. They were inside Watsula's vehicle, trying to leave, when the vehicle was swept away. Everyone but Watsula managed to escape the vehicle.

Watsula was swept away and eventually found about 200 yards from the Ilchester Bridge, police said.

Fire and rescue crews rescued 120 people during the flooding, Kittleman said. He said the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services rescued more than 40 people from the Phoenix Emporium, a bar along Main Street in Ellicott City, and at least 80 others from cars in different locations.

Everyone who was thought to be missing has been accounted for, he said.

Kittleman said the damage sustained during the flooding was the worst in at least 50 years and possibly the worst in the 244-year-old town's history. He says virtually every structure and business along Ellicott City's Main Street was damaged.

He compared the aftermath to that of a war zone or the set of a disaster movie.

Barth said he was unsure about any other serious injuries due to flood waters.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Howard County on Sunday. The order allows the state to efficiently coordinate support and provide additional assistance to Howard County.

"We are coordinating all available resources to address this emergency as quickly as possible," Hogan said. "Our administration is working closely with local officials, including Howard County Executive Allen Kittleman, to respond to this major storm event."

The Hogan administration has asked state agencies to respond to the effects of this storm, including the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, which has increased its activation level and is coordinating resource requests received from Howard County.